War of words

Jose Mourinho and Manuel Pellegrini may have been sniping at each other all season, but their rivalry actually dates back to their time in La Liga together. Pellegrini was sacked by Real Madrid and replaced by Mourinho, before taking over at Malaga.

Mourinho, 2010: "If they [Real Madrid] get rid of me, I won't be going to coach Málaga. I will go to a big club in the Premier League or Serie A."

Pellegrini, October 2013: "I don't know him. He worked in Spain, I worked in another club. We played Real Madrid against Malaga, nothing more. I don't have any complaint about him."

Pellegrini, February 2014: "Maybe it is a small horse if the manager thinks like that. It can be a little horse, but very rich. This is the team that has spent most money in the last 10 years, is the team that spent most money this year and the team that spent the most money in the transfer window. So, little - but rich."

Mourinho, February 2014: "Academically he is an engineer and he does not need a calculator to work it out. Mata was sold for £37m, De Bruyne £18m. That is £55m. We brought in Matic for £21m and Salah for £11m - that is £32m. So £55m less £32m is £23m. So for Chelsea in this window it is £23m - he does not need a calculator for this."

Pellegrini, February 2014: "I do not respond to things Mourinho says every week, otherwise he will continue to talk about things not involving football. I will not continue every week talking about things that for me are not an important level."

"He is a coach and he must give respect a little bit. He is always talking about everyone and that is not the correct way. That is why Barcelona always beat Madrid when Mourinho was here."

City will head the Premier League if they win all their games but have ground to make up to leaders Chelsea because they have played three games fewer.

Manuel Pellegrini, the Manchester City manager, and Mourinho have clashed several times this season as their sides fight it out for the title.

The Portuguese has accused City of being "lucky" with key refereeing decisions going in their favour, highlighted the strength and cost of their squad.

Mourinho has also criticised the FA for not charging Toure with violent conduct after he kicked out at Norwich striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel last month and the City player has clearly not forgotten the added bitterness with Barcelona the manager brought when he managed Real Madrid.

Now former Barcelona midfielder Toure has goaded Mourinho by suggesting he would have won more trophies than his one La Liga title and solitary Copa del Rey in his time at Real Madrid had he curbed his habit of speaking out.

After being eliminated from the FA Cup and Champions League, by Wigan and Barcelona, City face trips to Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton with added pressure on them to win the title.

But Toure rejects Mourinho's claim that City are title favourites. "Not at all," he said. "Chelsea are nine points ahead. Yes, we have three games in hand but we could lose all three of them. Chelsea, for me, are the favourites."

Pellegrini's assertion that City could win an unprecedented quadruple is now a distant memory but Toure insists the club's season will not be a failure even if they miss out on winning another trophy after triumphing in the League Cup.

Asked if City's season would be a failure if they didn't win another trophy, Toure said: "Why? Why would it be? We have already won a cup. You cannot say that. Football is a competition - only one team can win each of the trophies.

"Don't say we'd be failures when we've won something already. Now we want to win more but teams are desperate to beat us, so it's always tough. Teams are very motivated against us. You have to understand we are not a machine."